Naki: “Can you still keep up?”

  Tin Man: “Firewood doesn’t talk.”

  Naki keeps jumping from tree to tree while the Tin Man continues destroying them. Slowly, Naki has to rely on smaller and smaller trees. They make a full circle around the river. When Naki runs out of trees, he jumps high into the air and rushes downward. He delivers a vertical sword strike. He crashes into the Tin Man with such force that deep cracks tear through the ground. Next, he runs between his legs and engages in another clash with the axe.

  Naki: “[I have to get through this skin somehow. Could I do it with a sword strike? I need to be fast and precise. Fast and precise, like cutting silk.]”

  Naki becomes faster and more precise. He manages to put the Tin Man under pressure and pins him against a massive tree trunk. With a precise strike, Naki slices through the right arm, leaving a wide cut in the metal skin.

  It’s empty. No blood, no bones, no flesh—no sign of organic life.

  Before Naki can launch another attack, the Tin Man lets out a roar and releases the pincers from his chest. Naki deflects them with precise sword strikes. He retreats and runs along the river, carefully watching the pincers that chase him like wolves. The Tin Man stomps the ground and throws his axe at Naki.

  Tin Man: “I want your heart. I want your heart. I must have it.”

  With a sweeping motion, Naki deflects the axe and it lands in the river. Naki runs back along the path, hoping to dismember the Tin Man. The Tin Man retracts one pincer and shoots it out again. Naki slams all the pincers downward so he can step on them.

  Naki: “[I have to finish this quickly and get back to Najun and the others. I don’t see a heart or anything. He’s looking for one too, so that makes sense. But where can I hit him? What could be a weak point?]”

  Without thinking further, Naki steps right in front of the Tin Man. He assumes a thrusting stance and launches a powerful piercing attack. His sword plunges into the open chest. He stabs straight through the Tin Man and they land several meters away. Naki’s upper body is inside the empty chest cavity.

  Tin Man: “Now I’ll get your heart. It will be mine.”

  The Tin Man tries to close his chest and cut Naki in two with the pincers. Naki blocks it with his scabbard.

  Naki: “You won’t get my heart that easily. You’ll have to try harder.”

  Tin Man: “Give it to me. Now.”

  Naki pulls his sword back and performs several backward acrobatics. The pincers extend again. Naki uses his sword to gather them, stacks them together, and stomps down on them. They’re pinned to the ground, and the Tin Man can’t retract them or move backward.

  Naki: “I think I should use some magic. Just using my sword won’t be enough, and you’ll win. If you don’t fight fair, neither will I—but it’s not really unfair if you use everything you have.”

  Naki raises his sword forward, and a large black ring forms behind his back.

  Naki: “Birth-Ability—”

  Just as Naki is about to activate his ability, he’s struck on the head by a massive paw. He crashes into a tree, which falls from the impact. Blood runs down Naki’s head. His skull rings violently, and he can neither see nor hear.

  Tin Man: “Hello, brother. Did you manage to take out the driver? Did you assume your lion form?”

  Lion Man: “Yes to both. Even though I’m ugly and cowardly, I take this form because then I can actually do something.”

  Tin Man: “You’re not ugly. You’re not cowardly. You’re my brother and a strong warrior. You just saved me with that strike. You are brave.”

  Lion Man: “Thank you, brother. I’ll do everything I can to prove to everyone that I’m a brave lion.”

  The two brothers look at Naki, who is barely able to stand. His vision and hearing return, but he’s still weakened. The brothers slowly approach, their expressions making it clear they intend to finish him.

  Naki: “[If I die now, the others will die too. Kogiri is probably dead or something like that. I can’t end like this. I have to make it to the tribunal. I have to.]”

  The Tin Man throws his axe at Naki again, but Naki dodges. He sprints toward the Lion Man and strikes at his torso. The Lion Man presses both paws against the sword. The Tin Man retrieves his axe and throws it again—this time hitting Naki in the back. Then two pincers shoot out and pierce Naki’s abdomen. He bleeds from both wounds, but they’re not very deep.

  Naki releases his sword and kicks the Lion Man in the groin. The Lion Man makes a strange squeaking noise and collapses. Naki grabs his sword and turns around. The two wounds in his abdomen widen. He focuses, then throws his katana and hits the Tin Man in the head.

  Naki: “[Come on. He has to break eventually.]”

  He frees himself from the pincers and strikes at the Tin Man’s legs. The Tin Man falls. Naki retrieves his sword from the river. He rolls toward him and tries to finish it with a thrust, but the pincers block the attack. They continue rolling together like two small children fighting over a toy.

  While Naki is on the ground, the Tin Man repeatedly strikes him with the axe. Naki pulls out his scabbard and barely manages to block the blows. The scabbard is close to breaking. When it finally does and the axe nearly reaches Naki’s face, he places his sword between them. The only thing separating Naki’s neck from the axe is the sword lying there.

  Tin Man: “Your heart must remain untouched. I must cut off your head and then rip out your heart.”

  Naki: “[I have to get up. Lying here will get me killed.]”

  The Tin Man swings again with full force. Naki lifts his head and blocks the strike. He sees his blade beginning to split. With a clever neck movement, he bites into the hilt and redirects the blow into the ground. Naki kicks the Tin Man into the air and prepares another powerful strike—when two massive, mysterious hands grab his shoulders.

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  Lion Man: “You won’t commit any more such cruel acts, or I’ll get scared. Scared of you, you murderous swordsman.”

  The Tin Man lands on his feet and reattaches a pincer to Naki. He pulls him closer, but Naki doesn’t move an inch. The Lion Man pushes Naki toward the Tin Man, yet Naki still stands firm.

  Naki: “A Sakiko is never taken prisoner. Never!”

  The Lion Man smashes Naki’s head with his gigantic paw. No reaction. Again. And again. Many more times. Naki should have fallen after the first blow, but even after countless strikes he endures. Veins bulge across his entire body. A loud boom echoes from the energy he generates.

  He tries once more to activate his ability. The strange black circle forms behind his back again, and five blade-like shapes emerge from it. Before Naki can continue, he’s struck on the head again—and this time he truly collapses. The Tin Man pulls him into his chest and closes it, celebrating with his lion brother.

  Lion Man: “We did it! You’re amazing, brother. Much better than me. Better than everyone else, except our untouchable sister.”

  Tin Man: “You’ve got it. But you were amazing too. I’m really proud of you—and Sister will be too.”

  Lion Man: “You think so? We should go to her quickly and see if you’re right.”

  Tin Man: “Definitely. You know, I have an idea for how you can make your entrance spectacular. Want to hear it?”

  Lion Man: “Yes, yes. Tell me.”

  Back to the scene of the previous chapter.

  The Sister and Najun look into the forest and see someone emerging.

  Najun: “[Who is that? I hope it’s Naki or Kogiri. But that doesn’t really look human.]”

  A large man steps out of the forest. He looks like a lumberjack cast entirely from metal. He laughs loudly and opens his gigantic chest. Several metal pincers throw out a severely injured Naki. He lies unconscious on the ground, covered in blood and wounds, his sword still firmly clutched in his motionless hand.

  Najun: “Naki? Naki?! What happened to you? You monsters. You damn vandals.”

  Tin Man: “I just wanted to protect my family and get a heart. If that makes me a monster, then I want to be the worst monster in the world.”

  He turns to his sister, who embraces him proudly.

  Tin Man: “Look up. Our little brother has planned something spectacular for you.”

  She looks excitedly into the clear blue sky. In the middle of it, a small dot appears. The spot grows larger and forms into the lower half of a human body. The person lands beside the carriage and completely overturns it. Saku, bound inside, is violently tossed around. A lion-like man throws colorful flowers in all directions, holding one especially large red flower up to his sister’s face.

  Sister: “Wow, what a wonderful and unique entrance. You’re a genius. Come here and let me hug you.”

  The siblings embrace. The Tin Man joins in as the third sibling, and they celebrate loudly and joyfully, paying no attention to the others present.

  Najun: “[No, not Naki too. Kogiri is probably dead or badly injured as well. I can’t take on all three alone, and even with Saku it would be difficult. We have to run. I need to take Naki and Saku and escape immediately. But she knows. She knows about my horrific deed.]”

  The Tin Man overhears Najun’s muttering and signals to his siblings that their mission isn’t finished yet.

  Sister: “As a reward for surviving this long and for your brilliant plan earlier, you can decide how we kill you. I’ll strangle the girl in the carriage or something like that.”

  Najun looks at the three assassins’ faces. They all wait eagerly for his final answer. Will he be crushed? Strangled like Saku? Beaten to death like Naki? Or whatever happened to Kogiri? He doesn’t know. He remains silent, kneeling in Naki’s blood with thick tears in his eyes. He never thought he’d cry before his death. He always believed it would be an honorable end, but that hope is long gone.

  Sister: “If you take too long, we’ll kill you however we want, so hurry up. I’m starting to understand why we were sent after you. Especially you. You’re really annoying and somehow make people aggressive.”

  Still waiting, the siblings talk about dinner and which movie they want to watch. Their taste in movies is terrible. They discuss the worst films ever made as if they were masterpieces. Najun listens in despair. He even agrees that their taste in movies is awful, but he deeply wishes he could experience something like this with his own siblings—together with their parents. But the harsh reality is that his family is cursed when it comes to love and unity.

  Suddenly, the three assassins approach. It seems they’ve already decided how Najun will die. He crawls backward slightly, then gives up. He accepts his end and closes his eyes. He feels their footsteps drawing closer. Through his closed eyes, he sees the shadows they cast across his face.

  But nothing happens.

  Najun sits there in darkness, not knowing what comes next. He slowly opens his eyes and sees no one. No one stands before him. Confused, he looks around—but they’re gone. Blood drips from the sky onto Najun’s forehead. In total shock, he looks up and sees his would-be killers floating in the air, their faces twisted in agony.

  Najun: “What are you doing? What is this weird floating?”

  Moments later, he notices a cable piercing through all three of them. Whether it’s a rope, a formless sword, or a metallic whip, Najun can’t tell. The weapon comes from the forest. Najun stands up and rushes toward its edge, where he sees a man standing.

  Najun: “Kogiri?! I thought you were dead or severely injured. I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  Kogiri responds with a casual nod and steps forward. He tears off his driver’s clothes, revealing combat gear with armor pieces on his arms, legs, and chest.

  Kogiri: “That lion man really thought he could kill me with a single blow to the head. I may be a carriage driver, but I’m also a trained fighter.”

  Kogiri: “I wasn’t chosen to escort these children for no reason. Hina personally asked me because she knows what I’m capable of. Sorry about the lie.”

  With a powerful arm motion, he slams the siblings into the ground. His metal whip is soaked in blood, swinging like a third arm. The assassins lie injured. The sister has been pierced through her left torso, the Tin Man through the neck, and the Lion Man through his lower right chest.

  Sister: “I’ll kill you. You’ll die as a cheap driver in those ugly clothes.”

  Tin Man: “I have no heart. You won’t kill me so easily. I’ll take your heart.”

  The Tin Man charges at Kogiri, ready to behead him with his axe.

  Kogiri: “Weaklings like you shouldn’t talk.”

  With his whip, he sends the Tin Man flying and lashes him repeatedly, shredding his body until he looks like a heap of metal scrap. The Tin Man still seems to be alive.

  Kogiri: “I suppose you can only be killed if your entire body is destroyed. Small, precise attacks won’t work, right? Then I’ll just have to try harder.”

  As Kogiri prepares to strike again, he notices the unconscious Naki and rushes to him.

  Kogiri: “Oh no, Naki. We need to treat him immediately or he’ll really die.”

  During this distraction, the sister wraps her yellow paths around her two brothers and jumps down into the dark forest. Najun sends Bullet to stop them, but it only grazes the sister’s cheek. They disappear into the darkness.

  Kogiri: “Forget them. They’re gone. We need to focus on saving Naki.”

  Kogiri and Najun tend to Naki’s wounds using the first-aid kit from the carriage. Saku’s restraints have come loose, and she helps by disinfecting everything carefully.

  Najun: “He’ll make it, right?”

  Najun looks at Kogiri anxiously. Kogiri gives him a painful look. Najun understands and continues treating the wounds.

  Saku: “Done. That could’ve ended badly.”

  Najun: “I wouldn’t call this good either. Naki’s still unconscious, and the carriage is pretty wrecked.”

  Saku: “But it still works, and that’s all that matters. We should leave immediately. Even though I’d rather hunt down those three vandals.”

  Najun: “Me too.”

  The group prepares to continue their journey. They position Naki properly and set off. Kogiri takes command of the expedition. Najun activates his Birth-Protection to sense other enemies. He wants to adopt Naki’s mindset while he’s unconscious. He believes someone like Naki is necessary on missions like this.

  They travel until the next day. Four days remain until the tribunal. They are expected to arrive two days early, giving them a chance to prepare properly.